Product Review: Baby Thermometers

Baby Thermometers are a whole new ball of wax!

I thought I'd try something new and innovative, so I purchased a 'pacifier thermometer' - the only problem with that? My girls wouldn't suck on it long enough to get a reading.







So, I tried the traditional style with a digital readout. The only problem with that? No sick kid is going to have you hold a thermometer easily for the "Quick 10 second reading" - Can you hold a squirming, screaming child for ten seconds with one hand and a thermometer in the other? If you can, good for you. If you can, my other question is - can you actually hear the "beep beep" when it's done over the top of the crying? I couldn't do either.








So, I decided to take the monetary plunge and purchase a "1 Second Digital Ear Thermometer" - what a blessing this is.




You can buy one of these lifesavers anywhere for around $25 and they are well worth it.

This Looks COOL!

I think this is exactly what I was looking for when my girls were on bottles.

They never did hold their bottles on their own.

This thing is GENIUS!

I'd still sit right by them if I had these, but my arms wouldn't be so tired.

Just imagine.....

It's almost worth having twins again....

*almost*

Found on JustMultiples.com

Product Review: Baby/Toddler Gate

I never knew I'd care SO MUCH about kiddie gates until I had crappy ones. You know the ones: they only cost $10 and you have to be a wizard to get them to work properly and stay in the doorway. Those cheap gates are basically a hurdle for a mom or dad to hop over. Then when kids start standing up on their own, they learn to put their toes in the little diamonds and climb up the gate. Then when the kids are tall enough, they just reach over and bump the mechanism so it unlocks and the gate falls over. What a pain!

I got a "walk-thru" gate as a gift from my sister. I really loved it. Then the little plastic part that kept it closed broke but we improvised because the idea of going back to the hurdle gate was unappealing. Once the girls got smart enough to figure out how to unlatch that first walk-thru gate, I went in search of a better baby gate. I found the Evenflo Summit.

This gate ROCKS! It is so completely awesome, that we have TWO now (one for the kitchen, and one for our bedroom/bathroom). And I'm thinking about getting a third (for Ryan's office). Every time my Dad was in town, we had to re-explain how to get through it. If it's that adult proof, it's for sure twin-proof!

It's a double action deal where you push buttons in on the handle and then cock it back like a gun (or press down the handle on newer models). It's still a one handed operation, but I'm never worried that the kids are gonna figure it out. Maybe when they are 5 or 6 they'll have the coordination to do both actions as needed, but I foresee this gate will be in use at our house for quite a while. I'm very pleased with it!

Realize there is a difference between a baby gate and a toddler gate. Honestly, I STILL want my kids out of certain areas, so I can't imagine dealing with a baby gate that they could get through by the time they turn a year old or so. What a hassle!

You can buy this gate online from Amazon.com for $40 and free shipping. I originally got ours at Target for about $45, but I just saw several at the Hurricane Walmart for $34.

Product Review: Bath Chair

Once the kids are too big to bathe in the kitchen sink, we've got to move on. My girls didn't like laying down in the tub - the echo noises freaked them out. But they loved the baths in the kitchen sink. Holding them up to sitting position while I'm leaning over the tub was out of the question to do a "fun bath" and it was still a long process to do a "quick bath" for each kid separately.

I started looking into ways to prop up your kid in the tub while you were supervising them. I found a few different styles of "bath chair" and this one seemed the safest. There are a few that just suction to the bottom of the tub, but I don't want to depend on suction cups for safety if they can't even hold up interior Christmas decorations.

I didn't want to spend $25 a piece on these chairs - I'm way too cheap for that. I went to my local Kid to Kid store and found two of them on the first try! One was marked at $10, the other was marked at $12. I asked to have the $12 reduced to $10, but they wouldn't budge: lame. But for $22, I got my 2 bath chairs.

We used these from about 6 months old (should have and could have used them earlier, maybe 5 months) until the girls were trying to climb out of their bath chairs around 11 months old. Even well after they were sitting up on their own, it was nice to know they wouldn't slip and dunk their face under, etc.

The chairs swivel around and can lock in place. Front face, rear face, whatever you need. Easy to clean. Nice and sturdy. Very secure on the side of the tub. I'd buy them again!

Product Review: Musical Crib Mobiles

I fell victim to it like so many women. I bought the cutsie matches-your-bedding-set mobile that you have to hand crank. It was the perfect little nursery, arranged in their room just like in the movies - but movie nurseries don't FUNCTION like real life needs them to.

I'd hope that with my new-found knowledge coupled with common sense, others can benefit!

Don't waste your time with these hand crank models - the music only lasts about 45 seconds to a minute - just long enough for you to get to the bathroom and be in the middle of your business before your twins start freaking out again.

What you need is the super deluxe, thank goodness for technology, I'm sure a mom invented this musical mobile. The one I got is actually no longer available for sale, but they have improved on the one I've got by leaps and bounds. Of all the current market mobiles I checked out, I'm pretty impressed with all of them. I think it comes down to price and theme in the end.

"It slices, it dices, makes julienne fries in seconds!" That's what we need! A crib mobile infomercial!

My top suggestion for something to look for is a battery operated TIMED mobile. Something that can play music continuously for 15 heaven sent minutes or so. That, dear friends, is a life saver!! Your cranky infants can be somewhat entertained by whirling thinga-mabobs overhead, while you get caught up on laundry.

It actually became a routine for us. When it was time to take a nap or sleep for the night, we'd set the mobile to "on" and we'd have 15 minutes of music. Sometimes, the kids would even be asleep by the end of 15 minutes.

Once the kids are pulling up and standing up, they start yanking on the dangling parts. Most of these mobiles can partly detach, leaving the music part on the crib - just no overhead grabby parts.

Some new features I saw while looking around: night lights, self start up when baby cries continuously, and choose your songs.

Most musical crib mobiles with these cool features start around $30 at Walmart.

Great Product: Magnetic Safety Locks

I wanted to write a little about some of my favorite products for babies and toddlers - so far, that is. It's ever changing as our needs change.

At first, we bought the stupid plastic drawer locks. Well, when little Chloe wants in, she's gonna yank and pull and pry until she gets in - even to the point of tipping over furniture.

I heard about "magnetic locks" and thought it sounded cool, but unnecessary. Now with mechanical and into everything Chloe, I'm realizing that there is no "child-proof" only "child-resistant" - and it just buys you enough time to think to yourself, "Hey, the kids are quiet. I wonder what's wrong!?"

I have to say, these are pricey, but for greater peace of mind than plastic, it's worth it. I've had them on the "chemical areas" and knife drawers. I can't say if they are easy to install or not, Ryan did that part. They seemed a little tricky, but well worth it.

Safety 1st Tot Lok - Starter Set = Unlocking magnet and 4 locks - $17.50 @ Walmart

Okay Ladies!!! Let's BLOG!

I'm fairly delusional from graves, etc - so I don't have much to say, but I wanted to start this thing!! Please invite other gals you know!!